Mixed Results. Mixed Feelings.

Everton FC - The View From My Seat

Mixed Results. Mixed Feelings.

Well my previous article was only written the night before Everton hosted Swansea City at Goodison on the 24th January 2016. Well almost exactly 24 hours later this match has happened and I couldn't wait a week before posting my next piece. 

Am I writing this because I'm angry, frustrated, devastated, confused, slightly emotionally unstable currently....YES! I am all of these feelings right now. 

I've just watched Everton, the club I love get beat at home by Swansea City. No disrespect to Swansea, but they're currently having a terrible season and find themselves being pulled into a relegation battle. I think they will admit themselves and the facts prove that they just can't score goals. The commentator said something before the match that really should have told us exactly how today would go. "It's the team that can't score, against the team that can't stop conceding". So what happened? 

The team that can't score simply did.... Aided directly from the team that can't keep the ball out of their net! John Stones with a poor back pass and Tim Howard not reacting quickly enough saw Swansea awarded a penalty. 0-1. Gerard Deulofeu was like a conveyor belt of quality balls into the box today for us to only once supply a finish worthy of the cross. Gareth Barry 1-1. Tim Howard I think had one save to make and did so, only to then be beaten by a deflected shot that looped past him off John Stones, neither really to blame but a turn of good fortune for Swansea, the team that can't score had scored 2! 

The second half went as expected really. We bombarded, wait, Deulofeu bombarded the Swansea defence with quality cross after quality cross for no-one to gamble and finish off as Barry had done in the first half. Another day Lukaku may have scored a brace, others might have slid one home and we win 3-2 or 4-2. It wasn't meant to be today but for some reason this has flipped a switch in myself that has given me a slightly different perspective on our immediate and distant future that I'd otherwise have been putting off. 

I'm a fan of Martinez. When his tactics are working and Everton are in full flow we look simply unstoppable. When we aren't in possession of the ball and the other team put any sort of delivery into our 18-yard box, we are simply terrible. I think the fancy attacking football and goals for tally has been to some extent cancelling out just how bad our goals against tally is. Not entirely, I'm not blind to the poor defensive showings, I'm simply saying the goals we have been scoring has been slightly masking this for a while. Having said that, when the attacking isn't quite working, such as today, then our defensive frailties really let us down massively. 

I mentioned the feelings I am currently experiencing at the start of this and the confused feeling is coming from the fact that Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Baines, Mori, Galloway etc on paper are a very strong sounding defensive unit. Stones isn't being looked at by all the biggest teams in Europe because he's rubbish. Coleman for me is the best right back in the league. Baines has been the best left back and our own best player all round for several years. Jagielka is solid. Mori is proving a very good signing and Galloway has shown he's ready to slot in whenever called upon. 

So why is our defensive record an absolute shambles? It has to be our tactics. We can delve in even further... McCarthy, Barry and Besic are also quality defensive minded players who can cover the back 4 no problem, can't they? So surely it has to be the tactics these players are being asked to abide by. In Martinez's first season we had a fantastic defensive record. I believe that's because we surprised everyone with the free flowing attacking football that Roberto introduced. The downfall in that impressive season though is now evident after over a season and half of trying to continue in the same fashion despite everyone knowing exactly what we're going to do! There's no Plan B! 

Other teams have figured us out and we're becoming easy to play against. So if I know the tactics need adjusting and you know the tactics need adjusting, when will the guys paid tens of thousands of pounds figure this out? Peter Reid said on Goals on Sunday "What is the right way to play football?" referring to the phrase "Play football the right way" which we associate I suppose with Barcelona?! It got me thinking, he's right! The right way to play football is to play to your strengths. He mentioned Leicester City. They are a counter attacking team, don't mess around at the back, they sit in and when presented with the opportunity they get the ball right up the field and throw bodies forward and attack the opponents box. They're currently top of the league by the way. 

Our strengths are obviously not passing it around in our own 18-yard box. I can count on one-hand the times Tim Howard has launched forward a goal kick to 6"4 Romelu Lukaku as opposed to rolling it to an under pressure centre half. (It's probably more than 5 times but you know what I mean!) 

I guess I'm trying to say we need a Plan B and probably a Plan C too, just incase. Does Martinez have it in his make-up to come up with a different style, to mix it up a little to give us the surprise element again? I'm not sure, but what I am sure of, is that he's running out of time to show us. We look a real top team in that final third, Geri on the right, Barkley through the middle and Rom up top, so why not get the ball up there and play from there, not from our third. 

Moving on, if Martinez isn't able to show us something else, we're dumped out of the cup mid-week and our season therefore effectively over, where do we go from there? Takeover rumours have been flying around for a decade now but we are yet to hear anything solid from Mr Kenwright. So the club is in real limbo at the moment. No takeover, stick with Martinez possibly lose our most valuable assests? Takeover happens, keep our prize possessions and really kick on with Martinez or the new owners choice of replacement? It's really difficult to hazard a guess at what's next for Everton. Even if we do win the Carling Cup and qualify for the Europa League via that route, we had a go at that last year and blamed it for a terrible league campaign, what will be different next time around?

I think the situation off the field needs to be resolved before we can plan for the future. New owners, new manager and go from there. Or Kenwright pledges there is no imminent sale, we will cash in on Stones, Barkley and Lukaku AND bring in a new manager to spend the money we make and rebuild?

I honestly don't know. What do you think? Let me know!! PLEASE! :) 

Thanks again as always for reading, tell me your thoughts on social media.....

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2/3 isn't bad, but 3/3 is better!

Everton FC - The View From My Seat

2/3 isn't bad, but 3/3 is better!

A big week lies ahead for Everton, starting with Swansea City in a Premier League fixture, followed by Manchester City in the Carling Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg. Then finishing with an away trip to Carlisle United in the FA Cup.

January was always looking like it could be a frustrating month for us, with matches against Tottenham, Chelsea, Man City THREE times, then throw in Dagenham and Redbridge, Swansea and Carlisle just to add to the fixture list! However, I don't think we've been out-performed by a long way in any of the fixtures so far. A draw with Spurs who at that point were on an amazing run of form. A win against City in the first leg of the Carling Cup Semi-Final. D&R was a standard professional outing in the cup, followed by decent performances against City again 0-0 and went to Chelsea only to be in my opinion (And pretty much everyone elses) absolutely robbed of a 3-2 win and drew 3-3. 

The Swansea fixture is game 1/3 in a week where Everton really need to turn their promising performances into actual results. Swansea have just appointed a new manager, with this usually comes a run of good form where players are trying to impress the new guy and get themselves back in the team. Hopefully from our point of view however, we will still have a bee in our bonnet about conceding "that" goal in our last match against Chelsea and will repeat the performance we put in against Aston Villa when Remi Garde had only been appointed a week. So odds on 4-0 Everton win right?

We're at the stage now where even I, as positive as I try to remain, need us to start putting 3 points on the board. I've spoken before about the positives at Everton and the potential this squad has to be a real force. I really believe that, however, a mid-table finish and a failed attempt at the cup competitions will most certainly seal the fate of our prized possessions Stones, Barkley and Lukaku. They will be playing European football next season and that's why this week is massive. If we want these players to be playing European football with us, we simply have to win a cup! 

I think these players will give Everton another season if we end this one with a decent run in and climb the table a good few places and qualify for the Europa League via winning the Carling Cup and/or the FA Cup. Winning a trophy could convince this group of players that maybe they should stick around and have another good go at breaking into that top 4 next season. 

So game 2/3 is away at Manchester City for leg 2. Currently leading 2-1 means a draw would be all we need. But, you can't play for a draw and Martinez certainly will not. I think if we can get the first goal then we're well and truly in the driving seat. Their away goal would be cancelled out and they'd have no choice but to come at us leaving space in behind. A goal fest could be on the cards. You'd expect they will score at their place, but even if they get one back it doesn't change too much really as every goal we score past the first gives us the away goal advantage that comes into play after extra time. A draw is OK, a win would be better. 

Game 3/3 is the away trip to Carlisle United. Possible giant killing? I can't see it. Especially if we've just booked a place at Wembley for the final of the Carling Cup a few days prior. The confidence should flow through the entire squad and I'd expect us to overcome Carlisle with ease. 

So, 2 wins from these 3 and a draw sets us up nicely for February, but 3 wins from 3 could be a season defining moment. The confidence could rocket and see us start flying up the table! I HOPE!

Any defeats would really be unacceptable and if things don't go as I've hoped throughout this article then we may see a very different Everton squad come next season. The effects of finishing mid-table and not getting to Wembley in either cup could seriously damage our club, especially after so much promise this youthful squad looks to have. 

Thanks again for reading, I'm on all the usual social media... 

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Who's IN, Who's OUT?

Everton FC - The View From My Seat

Who's IN, Who's OUT?

The transfer merry-go-round is once again upon us, meaning half hearted rumours with not an ounce of truth will litter across the odd genuine transfer deals ready to be made. 

It's a scary yet optimistic time for us Evertonians, whilst we hope our young golden crop of potential stars aren't stolen from our grasp, it also intrigues me if they go for how much and where will that money go? 

Surely John Stones demands a fee in excess of £50M? In fact so must Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku?! Some of the transfers over the last few years mean now we can demand the world for anyone with half decent stats can't we? I seem to be throwing a lot of questions out to you in this article, I think it's because 99% of anything and everything said during a transfer window is full of half rumours, hope, optimism and a genuine feeling of having no idea of what can, can't or might happen! 

Chelsea will no doubt offer £50M for Stones. Man Utd would surely break the bank for Lukaku, they're in desperate need for a proper striker and the last one we gave them hasn't done bad! Barkley, for me I can't seem to decide which "Top 4" club he'd go straight into. Not that he's not good enough, I'm just trying to imagine him in another shirt, I don't want to but you know what I mean. Possibly City? Toure is still having his moments but they're rare and he's getting on a bit, David Silva is small and tricky, Samir Nasri seems to have forgotten where his boots are and the other midfielders are generally defensive. Barkley may be their answer but I'd want a ridiculous price for him. 

I can't see any of them going in January. The summer is different but right now I don't think any of them are looking to leave. Mirallas and Naismith on the other hand look like they have one foot out the door already. It's a shame really because they still and should have more to give to the team this season. There's clearly been some sort of rift between Kev and Bobby. A player with his ability should be involved a lot more, even from off the bench. If he doesn't start against City in the cup on Wednesday then it's 100% he's going I think. It would seem Martinez has chosen 32-year-old Arouna Kone over 28-year-old Kevin Mirallas. Kone had a burst of form at the beginning of the season and fully deserved a run in the team. He scored a few, set a couple up and seemed to bring out the best in Lukaku. However in recent months he's been non-existent for large periods of the game and Lukaku is proving he will score with or without him, thus making Arouna Kone obsolete to our starting 11. 

Kevin Mirallas on the other hand hasn't had chance to do anything. He came of the bench a few weeks back and grabbed himself a typical Mirallas goal and gave us a glimpse of what he's about. Then nothing really since, apart from helping fetch the Lucozades on at half time?! I can't see Bobby's thinking with Kev this season. 

If you don't want to play with two out and out wingers I can understand that Kone role. Defending the left when we haven't got the ball and drifting inside and towards Lukaku when we have. That's fine, especially now Baines is back to provide that left wing attack, but Steven Naismith does this perfectly too! Naismith is an all round better player than Kone and they're fighting for the same spot yet Naisy is left out repeatedly, resulting in him now looking likely to sign for Norwich. It will be a massive shame to see him leave, not only do I have him on the back of my away shirt but he was one of our best players in the opening weeks of the season and he gives 100% every second of every minute he's on the pitch. 

Anyway, back to rumours, hope and optimism mixed with a tint of realism. Realistically, we can't offer European football which means there's only certain players we can attract. I'd like to think our market is mainly within the Premier League. I think that players that are currently playing for the "Top 4" clubs that aren't playing regular is a good place to start. Ramires at Chelsea, Oxlade-Chamberlain at Arsenal, might be a stretch. Bony from City, maybe even, dare I say it.... Fellaini back from Utd? Moussa Dembele at Spurs. There's a few I think we could try and attract. 

The other section I'd like to see us operate in if we do lose anyone would be the stand out players from teams down the bottom end. Wijnaldum from Newcastle for example. I really think we've missed a trick over the last few seasons, we could be even stronger had we gambled on Shaqiri and we should have got Butland, both I think would have chosen Everton over Stoke. There's a few others like this we've missed and now the teams down the bottom are rapidly catching us. 

In all honesty I have very little idea of who would come in. It's a tricky one. I think we definitely need another out and out striker, imagine where we'd be if Rom got injured??!! Doesn't bare thinking about! I think if we bring in a keeper then we will have to buy another in the summer. Howard will be off to America at the end of the season I think and Joel Robles isn't going to play second fiddle to another new goalkeeper so we'd need a new No.1 plus a back up. 

Fingers crossed we keep hold of the entire squad and they sure up their defensive performances and we kick on! 

Let me know what you think on all the usual social media .... 

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